Fact check: False conspiracy theories allege connection between Biden victory and Ukraine – USA TODAY
President-elect Joe Biden's son was in the spotlight during the presidential campaign for his business dealings with Ukraine and China. USA TODAY
Since near the start of his campaign for the presidency, President-elect Joe Biden has been dogged by accusations of corruption relating to his involvement in the ouster of a top corruption prosecutor in Ukraine.
More: Debunked QAnon conspiracy theories are seeping into mainstream social media. Don't be fooled.
The conspiracy theories about Biden and his family crested in the weeks before the 2020 presidential election, when major conservative political figures repeated claims of varying truthfulness about Biden and his son Hunter.
One recent Facebook post by Omar Faruque repeats several of these claims, alleging that Biden was involved in corruption and that members of the Obama administration and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., covered up his criminality. It also begins with the claim that Biden "never won the election."
Fact check: Story that Pope Francis was arrested is fabricated
USA TODAY reached out to Faruquefor comment.
Biden won the 2020 election. Further, there is no evidence that Biden participated in corrupt or otherwise improper behavior in Ukraine. The various conspiracy theories about the Biden family and Ukraine draw on false information and perpetuate inaccurate narratives about Bidens time as vice president and his victory in the November election.
Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 presidential election by the United States Congress on Jan. 6. That was preceded by a Dec. 14 vote during which states' electorsacross the country formally cast their votes for the president and vice president, confirming that Biden won 306 Electoral College votes to President Donald Trumps 232 votes.
Fact check: Joe Biden legally won presidential election, despite persistent contrary claims
The Trump campaign filed dozens of lawsuits contesting the results of the election, and state legislatures held hearings to scrutinize potential evidence of fraud in the election.
In high-profile battleground states that Biden won, like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania, the electoral apparatus was examinedby state and federal courts, federal investigators and state audits. Journalists also investigated the election for evidence of fraud and found no evidence of widespread fraud.
More: How the antifa conspiracy theory traveled from the fringe to the floor of Congress
Fact check: These 5 election statistics do not discredit Joe Biden's victory
The Supreme Court struck down two lawsuits alleging widespread fraud in the election.
Just after the election, the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agencydeclared that the general electionwas the most secure in U.S. history.
Conspiracy theories to the contrary have been repeatedly debunked by investigations led by Republicans and Democrats alike.
Accusations that Biden was involved in corruption in Ukraine trace back to his part in Western democracy promotion efforts in Ukraine in 2014. Shortly after Russia invaded the country that same year, Biden helped to spearhead the alliance of countries thatsought to bolster Ukrainian democracy against Russian aggression.
More: A tabloid got a trove of data on Hunter Biden from Rudy Giuliani. Now, the FBI is probing a possible disinformation campaign.
As part of that effort, Western diplomats and Ukraine watchers in 2016 called for the firing of Ukraines general prosecutor, Viktor Shokin, who officials did not believe was adequately prosecuting corruption in the young democracy.
Conspiracy theories, like the Facebook post, insinuate that Biden sought to withhold money from Ukraine for some reasons of corruption.
'He has the experience and skill': Biden picks former career diplomat William Burns for CIA director
Fact check: Joe Biden was never 'wanted' in Ukraine; prosecutors rejected a complaint
The conspiracy theory has been repeated by the official White House account to draw a false equivalence between Bidens involvement in Ukraine and Trumps pressuring of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a call that resulted in his first impeachment.
This narrative is inaccurate; as part of the broader Western effort to strengthen democracy in Ukraine, the Obama administration determined that using $1 billion in aid to Ukraine as leverage was in the interest of the United States, its Western allies and Ukraine itself.
Regardless of the merits of that decision, Biden did not stand to directly benefit financially or politically from the move, nor was he the final decision-maker on the issue.
Both Bidens have denied any wrongdoing.
Comments alleging that Biden said You son of a bitch to Ukrainian officials are true, per Bidens own comments during a panel at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington, D.C., think tank. The comment, though, is not indicative of any kind of corruption.
Various other conspiracy theories have alleged that the Obama administration knew about potential corruption in Ukraine involving Biden, but the information was somehow covered up. These conspiracy theories, again included in the Facebook post, also occasionally allege that Pelosi impeached Trump as a political move for Biden.
Ukraine Scandal: Trump's conspiracy theories thrive in Ukraine, where a young democracy battles corruption and distrust
Explainer: Biden, allies pushed out Ukrainian prosecutor because he didn't pursue corruption cases
There is no evidence that the Obama administration conducted investigations into Bidens involvement in Ukraine.
A Republican-led Senate investigationinto the Biden familys activities in Ukraine, concluded in September, confirmed that some Obama administration officials expressed concern about Bidens son, Hunter, being seated on the board of Ukrainian gas company Burisma Holdings after Biden began leading anti-corruption efforts in the country.
Fact check:Yes, Hunter Biden is under federal investigation over taxes
That same Senate investigation, however, found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the senior Biden. The central claim of conspiracy theories about the Biden family and Ukraine, that Biden sought the removal of Shokin to protect Burisma, is false.
Fact check: Claims that Hunter Biden received $3.5M from Russia are unproven, lack context
There is also no evidence to suggest that Pelosi sought to impeach Trump to cover up alleged wrongdoing by Biden or anyone else. It is unclear how Trumps impeachment would eliminate evidence of wrongdoing on the part of either Biden.
Various iterations of conspiracy theories alleging wrongdoing on the part of Joe Biden in Ukraine have been investigated and debunked. Claims that the 2020 presidential election was the result of corruption are also false. The merging of the two conspiracy theories creates an equally incorrect narrative. We rate this claim FALSE based on our research.
Thank you for supporting our journalism. You cansubscribe to our print edition, ad-free app or electronic newspaper replica here.
Our fact check work is supported in part by a grant from Facebook.
Autoplay
Show Thumbnails
Show Captions
Read or Share this story: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2021/01/15/fact-check-conspiracy-theories-falsely-link-bidens-victory-ukraine/4149335001/
Continue reading here:
Fact check: False conspiracy theories allege connection between Biden victory and Ukraine - USA TODAY
- Analysis: Putin hints he might end Russias war in Ukraine. But why now? - CNN - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- As Iran war hits U.S. weapons stocks, allies fear impact on Ukraine - The Washington Post - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Why is Putin now talking about the war in Ukraine coming to an end? - The Guardian - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Ukraine's Zelenskiy: Russia has no intention of ending this war - Reuters - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Ukraine asks Europe to broker airport ceasefire with Putin - politico.eu - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Russian losses in war with Ukraine amount to 35,000 troops per month, The Economist says - Gwara Media - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- EU rejects Putin call for Gerhard Schrder role in Ukraine peace talks - The Guardian - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Russia and Ukraine accuse the other of ceasefire violations - Al Jazeera - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Russia and Ukraine accuse each other of violating U.S.-brokered ceasefire - CBS News - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Ukraine war briefing: Mixed reaction to Putin proposal of Schrder as peace mediator - The Guardian - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Putin says he thinks Ukraine conflict 'coming to an end' - BBC - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Spring in Ukraine means the return of blooms, battles and wartime tourists - The Washington Post - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Ukraine and Allies Launch New Measures to Return Children Abducted by Russia - UNITED24 Media - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Putin says he thinks Russia-Ukraine war is coming to an end - Reuters - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Is Ukraine Winning Without U.S. Help? - The Free Press - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- EU capitals say momentum is shifting toward Ukraine as Russia feels the pressure - Euractiv - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- It's time to admit that a strong Ukraine is a strong Europe - Euractiv - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Trump says Russia and Ukraine have agreed to his request for a 3-day ceasefire and a prisoner swap - AP News - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- What Russias lowkey Victory Day celebrations reveal about Putin and the war in Ukraine - AP News - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Germany and Ukraine Launch Brave Germany Defense Alliance for AI, Drones, and Long-Range Weapons - UNITED24 Media - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Putin in Weaker Position Than Ever Before on Ukraine War: EUs Kallas - Newsweek - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Russia and Ukraine trade blame for continued fighting as US-brokered ceasefire nears its end - AP News - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Germany and Ukraine to jointly produce long-range drones [VIDEO] - TVP World - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- ADAPTIVE INDOMITABLE UKRAINE: Against All Odds Still Holds Russian Territory in Kursk. And Intends to Stay - Daily Kos - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Ukraine Offers Hungary a Package of Proposals to Reset Bilateral Relations Following Historic Elections - UNITED24 Media - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Strategic partners: Germany and Ukraine to jointly produce long-range strike drones - TVP World - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Who is winning the war in Ukraine? - The Kyiv Independent - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Russia doesnt have much to celebrate on Victory Day, as Ukraine brings the war home to Putin - The Conversation - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- How Ukraine Is Taking the Fight Back to Russia in Crimea - The National Interest - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- Budanov: Ukraine ready for Zelensky-Putin talks if Kremlin is serious - Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency - May 11th, 2026 [May 11th, 2026]
- As economic despair mounts, Russian official admits the country has had enough of the war on Ukraine - Fortune - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- UK set to enter talks to join the European Union's $105.9 billion Ukraine loan - Reuters - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- Ukraine Bets on AI - Small Wars Journal - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- Ukraine sees path to getting Japanese arms after Tokyo eases export rules - The Spokesman-Review - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- Explainer: Is Zelensky implicated in Ukraine's largest corruption scandal, and what do the new tapes reveal? - The Kyiv Independent - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- Ukraine war latest: Poland's prime minister condemns NATO 'disintegration' as Trump says US will further reduce troop presence in Europe - The Kyiv... - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- Catskill native Jack Vincent directs film in Ukraine - Daily Freeman - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- Russias war casualty toll in Ukraine up by 1,080 over past day - Ukrinform - Ukrainian National News Agency - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- UK to enter talks on joining European Unions 78bn loan for Ukraine - The Independent - May 3rd, 2026 [May 3rd, 2026]
- As Trump focuses on Iran, Europe and Ukraine strengthen ties - Politico - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Hezbollah adopts a new weapon: Fiber-optic drones, used widely in the war in Ukraine - NBC News - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Ukraine Reacts With Shrug to Phone Call Between Trump and Putin - The New York Times - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Ukraine says a strike hit Tuapse oil terminal, the fourth attack on the region in 2 weeks - Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Russia unleashed record number of attack drones on Ukraine in April - TVP World - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Ukraine says a strike hit Tuapse oil terminal, the fourth attack on the region in 2 weeks - The Killeen Daily Herald - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- 'We're Learning From Them': Canada's First Female Military Chief on Ukraine, Russia, and What Comes Next - Kyiv Post - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- 'We should be able to open up negotiations' with Ukraine, Sweden's EU minister says - Talking Europe - France 24 - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- It takes two to tango: Will Ukraine meet China halfway? - Friends of Socialist China - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- The tables have turned. Ukraine is now readying the West for modern war with its weapons and combat expertise. - Business Insider - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Opinion: Russia, slipping in Ukraine, is now also losing its grip in Mali - MSN - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Exclusive: Here's why Trump's envoys aren't going to Ukraine - The Kyiv Independent - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- FACT-CHECK: Did Secretary Hegseth Just Fib to Congress About Ukraine and Russia? - Kyiv Post - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Margaret Atwood to Headline Canada-Ukraine Foundations 30th Anniversary Gala - markets.businessinsider.com - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- The First Investors in Ukraine Will Own the UpsideLessons from a Simulmedia Founder - UNITED24 Media - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Zelensky orders Ukraine military reform that would allow phased discharge of mobilized soldiers - Meduza - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Ambassador: Japan Could Help Ukraine Fund Air Defense Systems to Reduce Reliance on Patriot - - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- At least 1 killed, 52 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day - The Kyiv Independent - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- Army reform in Ukraine to boost combat pay and reshape how troops are recruited and retained - Euromaidan Press - May 1st, 2026 [May 1st, 2026]
- US ambassador to Ukraine appointed by Trump steps down after less than a year in the job - The Guardian - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Opinion | Why is the Pentagon holding up Ukraine funds? - The Washington Post - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Third Ukraine strike on Tuapse hits Russian oil refinery and prompts evacuations - BBC - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Media Alert: Stories of Hope: Nourishing Resilience in Ukraine, Hosted with the Embassy of Ukraine - World Central Kitchen - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Julie Davis stepping down, but officials deny reports of dispute with Trump - CBS News - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- At least three killed, more than 10 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine - Al Jazeera - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Opinion | Ukraine took Russias best punch. It wants to teach Europe what it learned. - The Washington Post - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Zelensky Hails Fair Response as Ukraine Strikes Orsk and Perm 1,500 km Behind the Lines - Kyiv Post - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Ukraine asks Israel to seize vessel it says is carrying grain stolen by Russia - Reuters - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- McConnell lays into Pentagon for sitting on $400M in Ukraine aid - The Hill - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- As Crystal Palace await, Shakhtar Donetsk are using Conference League run to ensure Ukraine isn't forgotten - ESPN - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Ukraine war flips Swedens Hagglunds fortunes from layoffs to billions - Reuters - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- North Korean Troops Ordered to Kill Themselves in Ukraine, Kim Jong Un Confirms - Kyiv Post - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Ukraine accuses Israel of receiving shipments of grain 'stolen' by Russia - BBC - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- The Tank Didn't Fail in Ukraine. The NATO System Did. Now Europe Has to Build a New One - Eyes Only with Wes O'Donnell - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- OPINION: Europes Ukraine Line Is Starting to Blur and the Timing Isnt Random - Kyiv Post - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Inside Ukraine's drive to defeat the dreaded Shahed drone - Reuters - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- King Charles praises Nato and urges defence of Ukraine in key speech during Trump visit - The Guardian - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- As Patriots run low, Ukraine may have invented a new way to down Russias 'unstoppable' Kinzhal missiles - The Kyiv Independent - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Ukraine Identifies More Than 28,000 Foreign Nationals Fighting for Russias Army - UNITED24 Media - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Ukraine urges Israel to seize Russia-linked ship suspected of carrying stolen grain - ynetnews - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]
- Acting U.S. ambassador to Ukraine to exit in June, barely a year after her predecessor left - CBC - April 29th, 2026 [April 29th, 2026]